Friendships Benefit Health

Friends are good for your health, according to two studies. In a survey of 271,053 people ages 15 to 99 years, those who reported valuing friendships scored higher on self-rated health, happiness, and well-being, and this association grew stronger with age. In a second study, involving 7,481 adults ages 50 and older, experiencing tension in friendships was associated with having more chronic illnesses, while having more support from spouses, children, and friends predicted greater feelings of well-being. Interestingly, relationships with family members other than spouses or children didn’t affect health or well-being in either study. Source:Personal Relationships, published online April 19, 2017